Translation issue

[eleazar]

English is not my native language so i have a problem with a simple translation, i would like to know what does the expression "Lion head ERASED" stands for, i cant figure out the meaning according to the actual mark/image, thanks
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[dognose]

Hi,

Welcome to the Forum.

It simply means that the head is torn off at the neck.

Trev.
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[eleazar]

Thanks for your answer, but let me ask you why is the word ERASED used in this case?
I understand "to erase" as to rub or to remove written marks, so in this case the body of the lion is the one that might have been erased and not the head?? thanks!!
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[dognose]

The term is a heraldic one. I think most heraldic terms stem from the French which was the written language when these terms were first used.

I'm sure someone will correct me if I've got it wrong.

Trev.
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[Granmaa]

I have a 1742 edition of Boyer's French/English dictionary (knew it would come in useful eventually).
It gives a translation of the English heraldic term erased as "rasé" which is the past participle of "raser", to shave.

Miles
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[agphile]

Erase derives from the Latin eradere - to scrape off or scrape out. In heraldry it took the particular meaning of "tear off leaving jagged edges".

Perhaps the easiest way to explain the usage in heraldry is to imagine you draw a picture of a lion and then rub out its head. The head would be erased. That rubbed out or erased head is then redrawn as the heraldic symbol.
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[agphile]

Or perhaps I should have put it more simply. If you are brave enough to tear the head off a real lion, you have a torn off or "erased" head.
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[eleazar]

thank you very much for your answers, i appreciate it
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